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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 09:26 PM
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is it safe to run a ls1 without a thermostat, we do it all the time with sbc's and bbc's and they always seem to run better cooler. thanks alot
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 09:39 PM
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
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Why do you what to do this? All you will accomplish is to keep the coolant cooler because it will not spend enough time in the cylinder heads and block to remove heat and transfer it to the coolant (as it's supposed to).

So yeah, you'll get cooler coolant temp readings assuming you run the fans more than stock, but due to the lack of a t-stat, the coolant will not spend enough time in the heads and motor to actually cool them, therefore you'll end up with higher combustion chamber temps and more risk of detonation.
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 09:58 PM
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you might even warp your heads???
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 10:25 PM
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I wouldnt do it, especially since these are all aluminum engines, if you want your car to run cooler, then get a 160 degree Thermostat and get your fans reprogramed.
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 10:55 PM
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160 or 180 ? will it go into closed loop with a 160 degree ?
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Old Jul 26, 2006 | 11:12 PM
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Originally Posted by cws T/A
160 or 180 ? will it go into closed loop with a 160 degree ?
Im sure a 180 would work fine but if you reprogram the fans the 160 should work fine
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 05:27 AM
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
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Don't watse money on the 180 stat. Your stock stat is an 86*C (186F) unit, the change will be unnoticable. Just reprogram your fans to run a little cooler with the stock stat if you want.
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 06:00 PM
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210 on my dummy guage right now so it be cool with the pcm and o2s changing from 210 all the time to say 180
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 06:17 PM
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Originally Posted by cws T/A
210 on my dummy guage right now so it be cool with the pcm and o2s changing from 210 all the time to say 180

even if you change the T-stat and turn the fans to come on, your guage will always read 210..

the only year they made a real guage was 98
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 07:12 PM
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
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Originally Posted by TORCHD 02 TA
even if you change the T-stat and turn the fans to come on, your guage will always read 210..

the only year they made a real guage was 98
Yep!
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by cws T/A
160 or 180 ? will it go into closed loop with a 160 degree ?
It goes into cosed loop at 100* I belive.
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Old Jul 27, 2006 | 08:49 PM
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Go with a 160. I have a 98 so my gauge actually works and when I went from stock to 160 with no programming I saw a huge difference in temps. I never break 180 unless I sit for a long time staging or at a light.
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